| Shoulder impingement syndrome shouldn't be ignored if | | | | impingement syndrome can lead to partial tears of one |
| you want to avoid surgery. Let's go back to basics to | | | | of the rotator cuff muscles. |
| understand exactly what the condition is and why it is | | | | So if we have a diagnosis of shoulder impingement |
| so important to get to grips with it earlier rather than | | | | what can be done? Rest and medication with |
| later. | | | | anti-inflammatory drugs and pain killers will sometimes |
| The shoulder is a shallow ball and socket joint. The ball | | | | do the trick depending on the initial cause and severity. |
| of the upper arm bone sits in a shallow socket. Think | | | | Physiotherapy can in most cases result in |
| of it like a football (English Football) sitting on a plate. | | | | improvement especially with specific rotator cuff |
| The ball is held in place by a group of muscles which | | | | exercises designed to strengthen this often neglected |
| surround the ball especially on the front, back and top. | | | | group of muscles. As the muscles strengthen they are |
| This group of muscles which forms a cuff to hold the | | | | able to pull away from the roof of the tunnel allowing a |
| ball in place is known as the rotator cuff. They all fix to | | | | return to full pain free movement. |
| the shoulder blade and the Humerus of the arm. Some | | | | Alternatively cortisone injections can help to reduce |
| of the muscle runs through a tunnel underneath the | | | | inflammation. A course of up to three injections can be |
| Acromion at the end of the collar bone. | | | | given. It is unusual for any benefit to be gained from |
| All of us are different shapes and the tunnels through | | | | more than this. Shoulder strengthening exercises will |
| which the muscles run are different shapes in each of | | | | compliment the injections helping to return the shoulder |
| us. Research has shown that in time some of these | | | | to full strength. |
| tunnels can start to almost fur up and reduce in size | | | | Finally if all else fails surgery can be performed to |
| causing the muscle to impinge or get pinched by the | | | | shave away a piece of the Acromion to widen the |
| sides of the tunnel as we make certain movements. If | | | | tunnel and allow free movement of the muscle. This |
| we ignore this the muscle starts to get damaged by | | | | again would be followed by physiotherapy. |
| this rubbing or pinching and in extreme cases can be | | | | So if you are in the early stages of shoulder pain or |
| ruptured or torn. An injury to the muscle caused by | | | | shoulder impingement don't just keep moving the |
| lifting or a fall can also cause the muscle to get | | | | muscle without doing something about it as you may |
| inflamed setting off a shoulder impingement. | | | | just be storing up trouble for yourself. Get it checked |
| So the onset of shoulder pain, whether as we get | | | | out and start the appropriate physiotherapy as soon |
| older or caused by a specific injury, needs to be | | | | as possible to see if you can avoid surgery. It really is |
| investigated and remedied if we are to avoid more | | | | a case of a stitch in time! |
| serious injuries and expensive treatments. Shoulder | | | | |